Trash-separator for beets and beet-tailings.



L. L. GIBSON.

AUOMSBILELOCK.

APPucATloN FILED APR. 29. w18. RENEwED nec. 1s, ma.

1,296,382., Patented MMA, 1919.

@Mmm m2 TRASH 8E APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13. 1916-.

Patented Mar. 4, 1919,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- m: :wams uns cn.. mmm moron. n. c,

vvcHleraLEs n. GREY, or BILLINGS, MONTANA.

TRASH-SEPARATOR FORBEETS AND BEET-TILING'S.

Specification of Letters Patent. y Patented Rial', 4, 1919.V

applicati@ filed March 13, 191e. serial No. 83,925.-

l citizen of the United States, residing at Bile understood lings, in the county of Yellowstone and State of Montana, have invented or discovered certain new` and usefull Improvements m' Trash-separators for Beets and Beet-Tailings, of which the following .is a specica tion, reference being vhad therein to the accompanying drawings. Y

This invention relates to machines picking over vegetables, beets from which sugar is to be extracted, for the purpose of removing twigs, leaves, and other trash as .well as to separate out the tailings or broken roots too smallto be of any value in the subsequent operations.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character referred to adapted to carry on its operations iny an automatic and continuous manner, without the assistance of any other operator than the one who feeds the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described, which is self-cleaning, or in other words, which will not become clogged with broken twigs, leaves or other trash.V

,Another obj ect is to provide means in such a machine wvhereby the beets are momentarily retarded in their travels until they have been thoroughly freed from trash;

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for the vpurpose specified, which is simple in its construction, consist ent with the functions to be performed, and

l`whose parts may be readily replaced when worn. f f

The foregoing and other objects of the invention, together with means whereby the same may be carried into effect, will best be from the following description ofone form or trated in thev accompanying drawings. It will be understood, however, that the particular construction described and shown has been chosen for illustration purposes merely, and that the invention, as defined by the claims hereunto appended, maybe otherwise practised without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

In said drawings:

Figurel 1s a top plan of a beet washing.

for I more particularly'v embodiment thereof illus-v one to three.

machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 23 is a longitudinal section through the entireV machine taken substantially on the line 2-2, Fig. 3; v f

Fig. 3 isa transverse section takenon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and p i Fig. l is a detail Vsection on the line 4 4, Fig. 2.

With reference to the drawings, the machine comprises side members 1, which are preferably inclined. as shown in Fig. 2. Journaled at the lower and upper ends of theside members are shafts 2 and 3, respectively. Extending transversely tothe side members 1 are bars 10 which support V- shaped troughs 11, which receive'the lugs of the chains and sprocket wheels 4f and 5. These sprocket wheels or pulleys are formed with peripheralV-shaped grooves, and the pulleys or wheels 4, which, in each series, alternate with the wheels 5, are in addition provided withradial flanges 6. l

Connecting oppositely disposed pulleys on the shafts 2 and 3, respectively, are chains 7 composed of pivoted links. These links are provided yat their innersides with inwardly extending V-shapedv lugs 8, which engage the peripheral grooves of the pulleys 4:' and 5, and at their outer sides with outwardly-projecting, cornered lugs 9. EX- tending transversely and secured to the side members 1 are bars 10 which support V- shaped troughs 11, which receive the lugs 8 v of the chains and thereby support the upper stretches of the chains, so that the weight of the Vbeets on the top of the chains will not.

to the shaftA 3, for the purpose of rotatingv the same, through suitable transmission connections, herein shown as a sprocket chain 12a coperating with sprocket wheel l2 fast upon one end of said shaft. Fast upon the opposite end of the shaft 3 is a sprocket wheel 13v connected by a chain 15 with a sprocket 111 fast upon the shaft 2. The sprockets 13 and 14: are of different diameters, so that'the different speeds. preferably in the ratio of The pulleys 4 are fastupon their respective shafts', while the pulleys 5 shafts 2 and 3 rotate atare loose thereon, and each pulley et of one series is arranged opposite a pulley 5 of the other series, so that each chain 7 passes about a pulleyt of one vseries anda puley' 5 vof the othei' series.

therefore travel at ,different speeds, while ,alternate chains of the series are driven from the same shaft 2 or 3 and therefore :travel at equal speeds. The direction of drive is such that the upper stretehes .of the chains travel upwardly and the lower stretches downwardly, yas 4indicated fb'y the arrowfon itA Fig. 2.

'Exten-ding transversely vacross the machine, and mounted -i-n bea-rings 16, are --rods 17 supporting downwardlyextending retarding nge-rs 1-8, which are formed of 4plates secured at their upper ends between the ears ofl castings '19 mounted on the -rods 17 and having upwardly extending arms 20. Stop ,rods'21 are located adjacent the rods 17 and ,are adapted to form abutments for the fingers 18,' which are held thereagainst by coiled springs v 22, secured at `their'oppo'- site ends, respectively, to the arms 2 0 and to transverse rods 2 22L supported at 'their ends by the side members cf the frame. At the upperl portion ojf lthe' machine, and .extending transversely thereof, is a rod 23 supporting a'plurality of lingers 24 Whose lower ends are arranged in proximity ,to the chains 7 adjacent their points fof engagement with the pulleys of the upper series. A t onefside of the machine .is Aa water supply pipe 25 piloided with :branch pipes 2 6, which extend across themachinefand behind the retarding `fingers 18, and are :provided with perforations on 4 their under sides for .the purpose o fspray'ing water upon `the chains and the materiell Carried thereby. Disposed between the stretches of the Vchains is a trough 27 for the purpose of conducting the water and trash, which passes through the spaces 'between fthe chains, toward the lower Aend of the machine toward ,a Vwaste pipe or the like, (not shown).

The operation of `the machine is as follows:

The beetsor other vegetables, with the accompanying trash, tailings, etc., are deposited, byany suitable means, upon :the upper surfaces .of lthe chains 7, adjacent :the upper end Aof .the machine, and .tend to gravitate -dfozWIlWlirdly toward the lower .end thereof,

such idownward ,moveinerit'fbeing retarded.

to a greater or Vless eXtent, the vupwardmovement of the chains. During-this downward movement the beets are subjected yto jets off water lfrom the pipes 26 which tend to im-pel .the beets downwardly, this impulse being, in ,pa-rt, counteracted iby the retard'- iifig'iillgers 18, said vbeets being finally dischar'gejdat the lower end :of-the machine.

It therefore follows that i adjacent chains of the series ,areY driven from the shafts 2 and 8, respectively, and" The twigs, sticks, and other trash falling upon the chains become entangled with the llugs 9 and,as adjacent chains travel at different speeds, are vbroken up and pass,avith the water from the pipes 2 6, between the chains and into thetrough 27. Any material which maybe carried by the lugs 9 to .the top of e.the machine will drop from the chains as they pass over the pulleys ofthe iipper series. Should any beet, by reason of the peculiar formation of its root, or otherwise, vbe carried l*by `the lugs 9 to the top of the machine, it will be disengaged from the chains by the fingers24 and againperinitted to Vgravitate downwardly. Any root'orgther object becoming wedged `between `adjacent Chains will be dislodged the flanges 6 'of the pulleys .4.

Havingthus describedmy invention, what I V claim as new and desire to secure by "Let v ters Patent is :Q

v1. A machine of theeharacter described comprising a series of endless ca rijiers arranged et 4an .inclination to a Yhorizontal piane and positivelyv driven Ineens 'for said,

Carlnns to vcanse adjacent Carriers toniove at different speeds while alternate carriers moveat the same speed.

2 A machine iolf .the .character desqrbed comprising@ series of inclnedjearners provided with .outwardly projecting cornered lugs, and means for .actuating ,said earners toV canse ,adjacent `cnrn'nns to move at ferent speeds .While .alteliiateearrlers move at the same speed.

3,. .A machine of the character Ydescribed Cniplisng'a Series of' carriers :arranged at ing said ,carriersto causezeach of said `carriers to move'at a continuously greater ,or less speed than that of fadjacentcarriers.

5. A-maehine Aof the character' described comprising .an nelned fnameendless chains arranged .to `travel longitudinally Y of thei frame, cornered Vlugs .onthe .outer .sides off the chains, 1and positive'ineans for actuating the chains fto cause .their ripper stretches vto move 'upwardly and'ior causing .each of .seid Y.

chains to more at n .Continuously greater or less -speed than kthat of .adjaent .chains y6,'. ln-a maohinevof,thecharactendescribled, y,

the-ieoinbinaten with .an inclined fname 0f shafts near the opposite ends ,of said frame,

each shaft being provided .with a series `of v pulleys :off Tdiid erent sizeszalternatingI-.nvith cach other, and alternate 'pulleys being fast on said shafts while the other alternate pulleys, between saidirst-named pulleys, are loose on said shafts, a series of endless carriers moving upwardly at their upper stretches and each of whichruns from a fast pulley on one shaft to a loose pulley on the other shaft, and means for. driving. said shafts at different speeds; whereby alternate carriers will be caused to travel at different speeds while the intervening altern-ate carriers travel at the same speed.l e y 7. In a machine of the character described, the combination with an inclined frame, of shafts near the opposite ends of said frame, each shaft being provided with a series of pulleys of different sizes alternatlng with each other, and alternate pulleys being fast on said shafts while the other alternate pulleys, between said first-named pulleys, are loose on said shafts, a series of endless carriers moving upwardly at l.their upper stretches and each of which runs from a fast pulley on one shaft to a loose pulley on the other shaft, said carriers having cornered lugs projecting upwardly at their upper stretches, and means for driving said shafts at different speeds; whereby alternate carriers will be caused to travel at different speeds while the intervening alternate carriers travel at the same speed.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination with an inclined frame, of shafts near the opposite ends of said frame, cach shaft being provided with a series of pulleys of different sizes alternating with each other, and alternate pulleys being fast on said shafts while the other alternate pulleys, between said rst named pulleys, are loose on said shafts, a series of endless carriers moving upwardly at their upper stretches and each of which runs from a fast pulley on one shaft to a loose pulley on the other shaft, and means for driving said shafts at different speeds; whereby alternate carriers will be caused to travel at different speeds while the intervening alternate carriers travel at the same speed, and springpresscd fingers above and coperating with said carriers to retard the downward movement, by gravity, of the objects being operated upon,

9. In a machine of the character described,

the combination with an inclined frame, of

shafts near the opposite ends of said frame, each shaft being provided with a series of pulleys of different sizes alternating with each other, and alternate pulleys being fast on said shafts while the other alternate pulleys, between s'aid first-named pulleys, are loose on said shafts, a series of endless carriers moving upwardly at their upper stretches and each of which runs from a fast pulley on one shaft to a loose pulley on the other shaft, and means for driving said shafts at different speeds; whereby alternate carriers .will be caused to travel at different speeds' while the intervening alternate carriers travel; at the same speed, and a series of fingers near thc upper ends/of said-carriers to prevent the material from being carried over said upper ends.' f

l 10. In a machine of the character described, the combination with an inclined frame,'of` shafts' near the opposite ends 'of said frame, each shaft being provided with a series of'pulleys of. differentv sizes alternating'with each other, and alternate pulleys being fast on said shafts while the other alternate pulleys, between said iiirst-named pulleys, are loose on said shafts, a series of endless carriers moving upwardly at their upper stretches and each of which runs from a fast pulley on one shaft to a loose pulley on the other shaft, and means for driving said shafts at different speeds whereby alternate carriers will be caused to travel at different speeds while the intervening alternate carriers travel at the same speed, and means for spraying with water the objects being cleaned.

11. A machine of the character described comprising an inclined frame, transverse shafts near each end thereof, pulleys on the shafts, alternate pulleys on each shaft being of different sizes and alternate pulleys being fast thereon, endless chain carriers extending longitudinally of the frame and passing around the pulleys, cornered lugs on the outsides of the chains, a fixed sprocket on each shaft, one of said sprockets having a different diameter from the other, a chain connecting said sprockets, and means for driving one of said shafts to cause the upper stretches of said carrier to move upwardly, and whereby adjacent carriers are given different speeds.

12. A machine of the character described comprising an inclined frame, transverse shafts at each end thereof, pulleys fixed to said shafts and having annular peripheral V-shaped grooves, loose pulleys on said shafts alternating with said xed pulleys, endless chain carriers which travel longitudinally of the frame and pass around said pulleys, V-shaped lugs on the inner sides of said chain carriers and which lugs engage the grooves of the pulleys, a V-shaped trough under the upper stretch of each chain for receiving the said V-shaped lugs to support said chain carriers, and means for actuating said carriers to cause the upper stretches thereof to move upwardly.

13. A machine of the character described comprising an inclined frame, a series of spaced endless chain carriers arranged to travel longitudinally of the frame, lugs on the outer sides of the chains, retarding fingers arranged transversely of the frame and adjacent the chains, a water supply pipe conleonie @fr @hinweg-a may ,mmealfpr .ive yAegnyijs each, by addressing WashingtorD- i In "'hereo- I Signat 

